Image forming method with stacking control

Abstract

An image forming method for stacking sheets in an apparatus that operates in a first mode or a second mode and includes discharging bins in which image-formed sheets are stacked. Sheets are discharged face-up in the first mode and face-down in the second mode. The method has the step of selecting the fisrt or second mode and then making different an amount of sheets stacked in the discharging bin depending on the selected mode.

1. A method adapted to an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a sheet and discharges the sheet to a stacking unit adapted to stack sheets, said method comprising:
 causing said image forming apparatus to operate in one of a first mode for discharging the sheet to said stacking unit in a first condition where a first surface of said sheet faces upward and a second mode for discharging the sheet to said stacking unit in a second condition where the first surface of said sheet faces downward; and 
 controlling said image forming apparatus to limit an amount of sheets which is stacked by said stacking unit in the first mode to be less than an amount of sheets which is stacked by said stacking unit in the second mode. 
 
   
   
     2. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said control step inhibits the discharge of a sheet to said stacking unit when an amount of sheets in said stacking unit reaches a first amount during discharging in said first mode, and does not inhibit the discharge of a sheet to said stacking unit when an amount of sheets in said stacking unit reaches the first amount during discharging in said second mode. 
   
   
     3. A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said control step inhibits the discharge of a sheet to said stacking unit when an amount of sheets in said stacking unit reaches a second amount during discharging in said second mode, wherein said second amount is larger than said first amount. 
   
   
     4. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said image forming apparatus forms the image based on an image data from an external apparatus input via a predetermined interface on the sheet. 
   
   
     5. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet discharged in the first mode is a sheet having inferior stackability, and wherein the sheet discharged in the second mode in a sheet having preferable stackability. 
   
   
     6. A method according to  claim 5 , wherein said image forming apparatus operates in the first mode for discharging the sheet to said stacking unit with the first surface facing upward to discharge sheets having inferior stackability including envelopes, cardboards or overhead projector sheets. 
   
   
     7. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said control step uses data from a sensor adapted to detect sheets on said stacking unit. 
   
   
     8. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said control step uses data from a counter adapted to count a number of discharged sheets. 
   
   
     9. A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a selecting step which selects one of the first mode and the second mode based on input setting in a host computer to output an image data. 
   
   
     10. A method according to  claim 9 , wherein said image forming apparatus discharges a sheet on which is formed an image based on an image data from said host computer to a stacking unit selected in said host computer from a plurality of stacking units. 
   
   
     11. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image forming unit adapted to form an image on a sheet; 
 a discharging unit adapted to discharge said sheet to a stacking unit adapted to stack sheet; and 
 a controller adapted to cause said image forming apparatus to operate in one of a first mode for discharging the sheet to the stacking unit in a first condition where a first surface of said sheet faces upward and a second mode for discharging the sheet to the stacking unit in a second condition where said first surface of said sheet faces downward, 
 wherein said controller controls said discharging unit so that an amount of sheets which is stacked by the stacking unit in the first mode is less than an amount of sheets which is stacked by the stacking unit in the second mode. 
 
   
   
     12. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said controller inhibits the discharge of a sheet to said stacking unit when an amount of sheets in the stacking unit reaches a second amount during discharging in the second mode, wherein said second amount is larger than the first amount. 
   
   
     13. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said image forming unit forms the image based on an image data from an external apparatus input via a predetermined interface on the sheet. 
   
   
     14. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the sheet discharged in the first mode is a sheet having inferior stackability, and wherein the sheet discharged in the second mode in a sheet having preferable stackability. 
   
   
     15. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said image forming apparatus operates in the first mode for discharging the sheet to the stacking unit with the first surface facing upward to discharge sheets having inferior stackability including envelopes, cardboards or overhead projector sheets. 
   
   
     16. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said controller uses data from a sensor adapted to detect sheets on the stacking unit. 
   
   
     17. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said controller uses data from a counter adapted to count a number of discharged sheets. 
   
   
     18. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a selector which selects one of the first mode and the second mode based on input setting in a host computer to output an image data. 
   
   
     19. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said image forming apparatus discharges a sheet on which is formed an image based on an image data from said host computer to a stacking unit selected in said host computer from a plurality of stacking units.